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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has expressed strong dissatisfaction over the persistent issue of property owners in Abuja failing to pay ground rents and other statutory charges, warning that the government would no longer tolerate such negligence.
In a media parley on Monday in Abuja, Wike drew parallels between property management practices in Nigeria and abroad, highlighting the difference in accountability and accusing property owners of often shifting responsibility, ignoring contractual obligations, and assuming no consequences will follow.
Wike emphasised the FCT’s legal expectations surrounding property ownership, referencing the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) agreements. He was particularly critical of wealthy individuals in premium districts like Maitama and the Central Business Area, noting that many failed to fulfil their obligations.
“How many poor people are there? Tell me, how many poor people this year? Most of them [the rich] need their own property overseas. But they remember that they must pay their taxes. If they don’t pay their taxes, government will take over the property,”
The Minister lamented the pervasive attitude of impunity within the country, blaming it on socio-cultural factors. “It’s this attitude of ‘nothing will happen.’ It’s this attitude of religion and ethnicity that has killed us and has kept us where we are,” he asserted.
To improve the ease of doing business and fast-track property documentation, Wike disclosed that he signed an unprecedented number of Certificates of Occupancy and consent documents within a short period. However, Wike expressed frustration that many beneficiaries still neglect their statutory financial responsibilities despite such efforts to streamline processes.
The FCT Administration has recently intensified its enforcement of ground rent payments and property documentation to boost internally generated revenue and ensure proper land administration in the capital city.
